Royal-class cruise ship
{{short description|Class of cruise ships operated by Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2018}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Royal Princess 6 (26812634049).jpg | Ship caption = {{ship | Royal Princess|2013|2}}, the lead vessel of the Royal class.
}} {{Infobox ship class overview | Builders = Fincantieri (Italy) | Operators = Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises | Class before = * Princess Cruises: {{sclass|Grand|cruise ship|4}}
| 2002}}
| Class after = * Princess Cruises: {{sclass2|Sphere|cruise ship|4}}
| Subclasses = | Built range = 2011{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/royal_princess_2013.htm |title=M/S Royal Princess |website=faktaomfartyg.se |language=Swedish |access-date=21 December 2021 }}–2021 (planned) | In service range = 2013–present | Total ships planned = 7 | Total ships completed = 7 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = 7 | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Cruise ship | Ship tonnage = *{{GT|142714}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/products-and-services/cruise-ships/royal-princess/|title=Royal Princess|work=Fincantieri|access-date=13 April 2017}}
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|330|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|38|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship decks = 15 | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship sail plan = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = | Ship speed = | Ship capacity = *3,560 passengers
| Ship crew = | Ship notes = }} |
The Royal-class cruise ship is a class of cruise ships constructed by Fincantieri of Italy and operated by Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises, both subsidiaries of Carnival Corporation & plc. There are seven Royal-class ships, with six operated by Princess and one by P&O. The lead vessel of the class, {{ship||Royal Princess|2013|2}}, debuted in June 2013 for Princess. {{MV|Britannia|2014|6}} is a derivation of design from Princess' version and debuted in 2015. The final Royal-class ship, the {{ship||Discovery Princess}} entered service in spring 2022.
History
= Orders =
In early 2010, Fincantieri and Carnival Corporation reached an agreement to build two cruise ships for Princess Cruises. The agreement was subject to the execution of a definitive contract, financing and other customary conditions.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/3685-21710-fincantieri-to-build-two-prototype-ships-for-princess-cruises.html|title=Fincantieri to build two prototype ships for Princess Cruises|date=17 February 2010|work=Cruise Industry News|access-date=17 February 2010}} The contract was finalized on 4 May 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/3957-5410-carnival-corp-finalizes-contracts-for-two-new-princess-ships.html|title=Carnival Corp. finalizes contracts for two new Princess ships|date=4 May 2010|work=Cruise Industry News|access-date=4 May 2010}} While in the midst of economic downturn, Princess managed to continue the contract with the help of Italian Export Credit Companies, particularly SACE S.p.A.
On 1 June 2011, Carnival Corporation announced an order for a new 141,000-ton cruise ship for P&O Cruises.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-13612329|title=P&O owner Carnival orders 'largest UK cruise ship'|date=2011-06-01|work=BBC News}} Estimated at a cost of €559 million, the ship would become the largest ship built specifically for the British market.
On 30 July 2014, Carnival Corporation announced it was ordering the third Royal-class vessel for Princess, at a cost of €600 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/11402-princess-orders-third-royal-class-ship-for-2017-delivery.html|title=Princess Orders Third Royal-class Ship for 2017 Delivery|last=Staff|first=C. I. N.|date=2014-07-30|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|language=en-gb}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/majestic-princess-cruise-ship/#0|title=Majestic Princess Cruise Ship - Ship Technology|work=Ship Technology|access-date=2018-09-15|language=en-GB}}
In March 2015, Carnival Corporation signed a strategic agreement with Fincantieri, which included the fourth and fifth Royal-class vessels for Princess.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/media/press-releases/2015/000619/|title=Fincantieri: Five Next-Generation Ships for Carnival Corporation |date=2015-03-27|website=fincantieri.com}} The contract for these ships were finalized on 2 April 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/media/press-releases/2016/0007072/|title=Record Fincantieri: The Group Will Build 5 Cruise Ships For Carnival Corporation |date=2016-04-02|website=fincantieri.com |access-date=2020-02-03}}
In January 2017, Carnival Corporation signed a memorandum of agreement with Fincantieri for the sixth and final Royal-class ship for Princess.{{Cite news|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/carnival-orders-two-new-cruise-ships|title=Carnival Orders Two New Cruise Ships|date=2017-01-19|work=The Maritime Executive}}
= Planning and design =
The two first ships of the Royal class were designed to have a gross tonnage of {{GT|141,000|lk=off}}, with a passenger capacity of 3,600. The new ships were predicted to enter service in mid-2013 and 2014 and were to become the largest new-build vessels to date for Princess Cruises. Design features were planned to evolve from existing Princess staples, such as an expanded "Piazza" central atrium as well as an expansion in balcony accommodations, which would become available across 80% of all staterooms on the vessels.
Following the delivery of the first two Royal-class ships, P&O's Royal-class vessel became the biggest ship built by Fincantieri at her time of delivery.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/12251.html|title=P&O Britannia Presented in Monfalcone|date=2015-02-22|work=Cruise Industry News}} At approximately {{GT|144,000}}, she housed 1,837 staterooms for a total guest capacity of 4,324 passengers, and up to 5,700 total people, including the crew.
The third, fourth, and fifth Princess ships were slated to have a slight increase in gross tonnage, at {{GT|143,700|lk=off}}, from their older sister ships. The final Princess ship was planned with another increase in gross tonnage to {{GT|145,000|lk=off}}, with an increase in guest capacity by 100 to 3,660 passengers.
Summary
= Princess Cruises =
On 15 March 2011, the name of the first Royal-class vessel was officially announced as Royal Princess.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/princess-new-royal-princess-to-feature-glassbottomed-walkway.html|title=Princess' New Royal Princess to Feature Glass-Bottomed Walkway|date=2011-03-15|website=TravelPulse}} It is the third ship in Princess fleet to carry this name after the last ship left in May 2011. The ship was officially handed over to Princess on 30 May 2013 and christened by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on 13 June 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorship.com/news101/ships-and-shipyards/fincantieris-largest-ever-continues-cruise-tradition|title=Fincantieri's largest-ever continues cruise tradition|date=2013-08-31|website=www.motorship.com}}
On 28 August 2012, Princess announced that the sister ship to the new Royal Princess would be named Regal Princess.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/7765-princess-cruises-announces-name-of-next-new-ship-will-be-regal-princess-.html|title=Princess Cruises Announces Name of Next New Ship Will Be Regal Princess |date=2012-08-28|publisher=Cruise Industry News|access-date=2013-03-02}} the second ship to have carried that name for Princess. She was delivered to Princess on 11 May 2014{{Cite web|url=https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/124052/fincantieris-monfalcone-displays-regal-princess/|title=Fincantieri's Monfalcone Displays "Regal Princess"|website=worldmaritimenews.com|date=16 May 2014}} and christened by the original cast of The Love Boat on 5 November 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6053|title=The Love Boat Original Cast Christens Regal Princess |website=cruisecritic.com}}
On 9 October 2015, the third vessel's name, Majestic Princess, was announced. She was originally designed to be purpose-built for the Chinese market and homeported in Shanghai year-round. She was delivered on 30 March 2017{{Cite web|url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/media/press-releases/2017/2017-03-30-consegnata-a-monfalcone-majestic-princess/|publisher=Fincantieri |date=2017-03-30 |title=Fincantieri: "Majestic Princess" Delivered In Monfalcone|website=fincantieri.com}} and christened by Yao Ming and Ye Li on 9 July 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/chinese-basketball-stars-to-name-majestic-princess/|title=Chinese basketball stars to name Majestic Princess|date=2017-06-21|website=Seatrade Cruise News}}
On 30 November 2017, Princess announced that the name of the fourth Royal-class vessel would be Sky Princess, the second ship to have carried that name for Princess.{{Cite web|url=https://www.princess.com/news/news_releases/2017/11/Princess-Cruises-to-Name-Next-Ship-Sky-Princess.html|title=Princess Cruises: Princess Cruises to Name Next Ship Sky Princess|date=2017-11-30|website=www.princess.com}} She was delivered on 15 October 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/fincantieri-delivers-sky-princess|title=Fincantieri Delivers Sky Princess|website=The Maritime Executive |access-date=2019-10-21}} and christened by NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Captain Kay Hire and NASA engineer Poppy Northcutt on 7 December 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/22033-sky-princess-christened.html|title=Sky Princess Christened|date=2019-12-07|website=Cruise Industry News}}
On 20 August 2018, the fifth Royal-class vessel was announced as Enchanted Princess.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/19495-new-princess-ship-to-carry-name-enchanted-princess.html|title=New Princess Ship to Carry Name Enchanted Princess|last=Staff|first=C. I. N.|date=2018-08-20|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com}} Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, she had been scheduled to debut on 15 June 2020.
On 4 October 2019, Princess revealed that the sixth and final Royal-class vessel would be named Discovery Princess, which was scheduled to begin operating in November 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21677-next-princess-newbuild-to-carry-name-discovery-princess.html|title=Next Princess Newbuild to Carry Name Discovery Princess|date=2019-10-04|website=cruiseindustrynews.com|access-date=2019-10-04}}
= P&O Cruises =
Two years after P&O's only Royal-class ship was ordered, on 24 September 2013, the ship's name was announced as {{ship|MV|Britannia|2014|2}}. She was delivered to P&O Cruises on 22 February 2015 in Monfalcone. Britannia arrived in Southampton on 6 March 2015,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-31763692|title=New P&O cruise ship Britannia arrives in Southampton|date=2015-03-06|work=BBC News}} was christened by Queen Elizabeth II on 10 March,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-31802613|title=Cruise ship Britannia: Queen names P&O luxury vessel|date=2015-03-10|work=BBC News}} and entered service on her maiden voyage on 14 March.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-31886631|title=Cruise ship Britannia: Leaves on maiden voyage|date=2015-03-14|work=BBC News}}
Ships
References
{{Reflist}}
{{List of ships built by Fincantieri}}
{{Royal Class Cruise Ships |state=collapsed}}